Overreactions to the Ravens’ rout of the Lions in Week 7
The Baltimore Ravens crushed the Detroit Lions 38-6 on Sunday to climb to 5-2 and maintain first place in the AFC North division rankings. Players delivered numerous encouraging performances in all three stages of the interconference matchup, including their best complete effort of the regular season.
Here are a couple standout performances from the team’s Week 7 statement win that merit some fiery yet reasonable interpretations:
Because the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback didn’t have Mark Ingram to make this announcement prior to his postgame press conference on Sunday, we’ll do it here. He had by far his greatest game of the season, setting season highs in passing yards (357), passing touchdowns (3), yards and adjusted yard per attempt (13.2 and 15.44), and his third career passer rating of 155 or above, the same amount Tom Brady had in his entire Hall of Fame career.
As good as reigning league MVP Patrick Mahomes’ season-best performance in the Kansas City Chiefs’ 31-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 7, Jackson’s performance was arguably more impressive given the opposition.
The Chargers have one of the league’s weakest all-around defences. In several important statistics, including total yards, passing yards, running yards, points per game, and yards per play, they rank in the bottom half. Prior to allowing the Ravens to score 38 points on them this past Sunday, the Lions had one of the league’s most improved and stingiest defences, as well as a top-five run defence unit.
While Mahomes threw for more yards (424-357), he also attempted 15 more passes (42-27) and played 100% of his team’s total offensive snaps, whereas Jackson was yanked in the fourth quarter and did not play the last drive. Jackson led all six Ravens scoring drives on the day, including four straight for touchdowns to start the game, and would’ve had a fifth in a row if not for a fumble on a botched handoff. Mahomes led four touchdown drives on five possessions in the first half, with the fifth ending in an interception.
Jackson had a higher completion % (77.8-76.2) and passer rating (155.8-129.5) as well. The rest of the race will most likely be a close one.
Before their Week 7 match, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh hailed the Lions, calling them “arguably the best team in the NFC,” but it was his club that looked like the best team in the whole league on Sunday, dominating on both sides of the ball totally and convincingly.The offence finally demonstrated how potent and frightening they can be when everything is firing on all cylinders and all of their pieces are healthy. Todd Monken called a fantastic game in which his team scored more points than their previous two games combined and gained the most yards in two years.
Mike MacDonald’s defence passed its hardest test of the season, limiting an opposing offence that had been averaging 28 points per game through six weeks to just six. They pitched a shutout through the first three quarters, forcing four punts and a turnover on downs, including three straight three-and-outs to start the game, and didn’t allow a first down until less than eight minutes remained in the second quarter.
If the Ravens can stay healthy on both sides of the ball and continue to play dominant complementary football, they’ll be a team that everyone fears confronting the rest of the regular season and no one wants to face come the playoffs.
“Success does breed success,” Harbaugh asserted. “Real confidence comes from proving to yourself that you can do it.” It’s one thing to believe in yourself and recognise your potential. It’s one thing to go out there and sink a shot knowing you can.”
More defenders from the 2020 draught class should be prioritised for re-signing by the Ravens.
The Ravens have numerous playmaking defenders who are in the final year of their rookie contracts and having breakout seasons. They signed 2020 fifth-round defensive tackle Broderick Washington to an extension before the season, and three of his fellow fourth-year pros continued to show why on Sunday.
Patrick Queen, a former first-round pick, tied for third-most tackles on the team with five total tackles—all of which were solos—as he and All-Pro veteran Roquan Smith continue to be the league’s best combo.
Former third-round defensive end Justin Madubuike helped lead the charge for the Ravens’ top-ranked pass rush, adding to his team-leading sack total with his fourth consecutive game with at least half a sack or more, matching his career high in just seven games with 5.5 on the year.
In addition to his sack, he had two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, three total tackles, and forced an intentional grounding, which was almost a third sack. Madubuike may be the most difficult to maintain, but if he continues at his current rate, he may be well worth the significant investment required to keep him.
“I think he has continued to grow ever since he’s been here,” he remarked. “He’s always had a lot of potential.” There would be a few dominant plays here and there. He’s just made more of them; he’s more consistent in producing dominant type plays, whether they’re run or pass.”
Former seventh-round safety Geno Stone has been the biggest and most pleasant surprise of the group, consistently performing admirably when called upon to fill in for veteran free safety Marcus Williams. He’s offered the same dangerous ball-hawking aspect, and he now leads the league in interceptions after tying his career best with four on Sunday.
Stone made plays all over the field, finishing with three solo tackles, a pass breakup, and a crucial stop on a failed two-point conversion attempt in the fourth quarter following the Lions’ only touchdown of the game.
The Ravens also have numerous difference-making senior defenders who stood out in Week 7 and continue to make general manager Eric DeCosta appear like the league’s best discount bin shopper. During training camp, he added three-time Pro Bowl edge defender Jadeveon Clowney and fiery nickel cornerback Arthur Maulet, as well as two-time Super Bowl champion Kyle Van Noy. Against the Lions, all three performed admirably and made significant contributions in a variety of ways.
Van Noy had his best game as a Raven in the rout of his former squad, leading his new team with a season-high two sacks. On only 33 defensive snaps, the 32-year-old finished with five total tackles, including two for loss.
Maulet also added to the pass rush with his second sack of the season on a slot blitz. Arthur was effective in coverage, aggressive in run support, and appeared on special teams on six snaps. He tied Smith for the team lead in total tackles with eight, including a club-high seven solos, one for a loss, and a quarterback hit on another blitz.
“No doubt about it, Arthur had a very productive game,” Harbaugh said. “He was all over the place.” ‘Dude, you’re getting a little gassed at the end,’ I warned him. He also participates in special teams. He was involved in numerous plays, blitzed, and was sacked. It was fantastic to see him be so industrious. “I think he’s doing a great job with the defence.”
Clowney only had one solo tackle on the box score, but he was a steady disruptive force as a pass rusher, finishing with four pressures, tied for second on the team with Madubuike, according to Next Gen Stats.
“You get to be a little older and they start saying you can’t do it anymore and Kyle does take that personally,” Harbaugh told reporters. “That’s most likely what drives him. The same thing happened to (Jadeveon) Clowney. It’s quite cool to see those people do that.”
The three veterans have accounted for 8.5 of the Ravens’ league-leading 29 sacks and have been crucial elements in the success of Macdonald’s defence, so as they’ve faced with losses to younger players they were relying on to play bigger roles entering into the season, they’ve become even more important.
Van Noy and Clowney have made the absences of Odafe Oweh (2021 first-rounder) and David Ojabo (2022 second-rounder) imperceptible in terms of performance, each having three or more sacks this season. Maulet has compensated for the departure of third-year player Ar’Darius Washington, who won the starting slot corner position in training camp.
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